Study on the prevalence of neurogenic bladder in Brazilians with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2023 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1981715 · Published: July 1, 2023

Simple Explanation

Neurogenic bladder is a condition where bladder function is affected due to problems in the nervous system. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major cause of this condition. This study aimed to find out how common neurogenic bladder is among people with SCI in Brazil. The researchers looked at the medical records of 954 patients with SCI from several hospitals in the SARAH Network in Brazil. They collected information on age, sex, type of SCI (traumatic or non-traumatic), and whether they had a diagnosis of neurogenic bladder. The study found that neurogenic bladder is very common among people with SCI in Brazil, with a prevalence of 94.65%. Traumatic SCI was more common in males, while non-traumatic SCI was more common in females. This study is a first step in understanding the impact of neurogenic bladder in Brazil.

Study Duration

2007 to 2017

Participants

954 users of SARAH Network hospitals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
The study found a high prevalence of neurogenic bladder (94.65%) among SCI patients in the SARAH Network.
2
Participants with traumatic SCI were more likely to have neurogenic bladder compared to those with non-traumatic SCI.
3
Traumatic SCI was more prevalent among males, while non-traumatic SCI was more prevalent among females.

Research Summary

This study investigated the prevalence of neurogenic bladder in Brazilians with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) using data from the SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals. The results showed a high prevalence of neurogenic bladder (94.65%) among SCI patients, with traumatic SCI being more associated with the condition compared to non-traumatic SCI. The study highlights the need for a national database and further research to inform public healthcare policies for the prevention and rehabilitation of people with SCI in Brazil.

Practical Implications

Public Health Policy

The high prevalence of neurogenic bladder highlights the need for targeted public health policies and resources for individuals with SCI in Brazil.

Clinical Practice

The findings can inform clinical practice by emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and management of neurogenic bladder in SCI patients.

Future Research

The study underscores the need for further epidemiological studies and the development of a national database to better understand the impact of SCI and neurogenic bladder in Brazil.

Study Limitations

1
The sample may not be representative of the entire Brazilian population with SCI, as it was drawn from a specific network of rehabilitation hospitals.
2
Data collection was limited by the availability and completeness of information in electronic medical records.
3
The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between SCI type and neurogenic bladder.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Neurology